Samyukt Kisan Morcha to push MPs, Ministers against free trade pacts
New Delhi, August 3, 2026: The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of farmers' organisations, announced on Monday that it will campaign against the free trade agreements signed with the United Kingdom and the European Union, and the proposed deal with the United States. The group plans to meet all Members of Parliament and Union Ministers to press its case.
Speaking at a press conference, SKM leader P. Krishnaprasad said such trade treaties are not in the interest of agricultural producers and farm workers. He also noted that these agreements have not been discussed in Parliament, and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to hold consultations with farmers' representatives before finalising any further pacts.
The announcement follows a recent SKM convention where a charter of demands was adopted. The leaders said mass delegations will visit MPs and Ministers on August 17, 2026, to submit the charter and seek action on seven principal demands.
Key demands include the repeal of all free trade agreements, including the proposed Indo-U.S. deal, a law guaranteeing Minimum Support Price (MSP) as recommended by the M.S. Swaminathan Commission, and assured procurement for all crops. The SKM is also seeking a comprehensive loan waiver to address rural indebtedness, compensation of ₹25 lakh to families of peasant farmers who have died by suicide, and the scrapping of four Labour Codes with a minimum wage of ₹31,000 per month for all workers.
Other demands are the restoration of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) with 200 days of work and a daily wage of ₹700, withdrawal of the Electricity Privatisation Bill 2025, the Seed Bill 2025, and the National Food Security Act Amendment Bill. The group is also opposed to forceful land acquisition and pro-corporate land pooling, and seeks protection of land rights under the Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act 2013, the Forest Rights Act 2006, and the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act 1996.
Addressing the media, SKM leaders made several allegations regarding government policies. They claimed that the recent move to involve Adani and Leap India in Food Corporation of India (FCI) silos would allow the two companies to control 77.5% of stored grains. They also said that corporate dues worth ₹16 lakh crore had been written off, while no farmer loans were waived. These statements are part of the SKM's ongoing criticism of agricultural and economic policies.
The SKM has been a prominent voice in Indian agriculture, having led the year-long protest against the now-repealed farm laws. The upcoming campaign seeks to highlight what the body describes as the adverse impact of trade liberalisation on the farming community. The meetings with parliamentarians are expected to be held in the national capital and across state capitals.
